A HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB: PART 5

Posted December 3, 200519 yr

A HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB:

PART FIVE: SECOND FLAG - THEN TIMES GET TOUGH by The Professor

A different world was emerging in 1919 when the war to end all wars would draw to a conclusion. People were left with the task of observing the consequences of the hostilities and then trying to forget them.

The Melbourne Football Club had lost a number of its playing members during The Great War and in 1919, when the team the field again after a break of three seasons, it lacked the experienced players to be competitive losing all of its matches. But 1920 saw the introduction of an intensive recruiting campaign. Albert Chadwick, a strong young ruckman made his debut in the opening round. Charlie Streeter, Hugh Dunbar, Dick Taylor, Colin Deane, "Bunny Wittman" and Ivor Warne-Smith soon joined him.

As a consequence of this influx of talented youth, the club's fortunes improved gradually. By 1925 Melbourne reached the finals recording thirteen wins. It was the club's first finals series in a decade and Melbourne was headed only by Geelong and Collingwood in the new twelve team competition that had emerged as a

result of the inclusion of Footscray, Hawthorn and North Melbourne.

The impetus of having played in a finals series and the recruiting of additional talent in Bob Johnson, a tall centre half forward and Herbie White, a rover enabled Melbourne to scoop the pool in 1926 under the guidance of captain coach Chadwick. In a memorable grand final which foreshadowed the great future rivalry of two famous football clubs, Melbourne ran away from Collingwood in the third quarter and went on to win by 57 points to record their second premiership. Vice captain Ivor Warne-Smith capped off a great season winning the Brownlow Medal with nine "first votes" and other highlights included the goalkicking performances of Moyes, Johnson and Davie (each kicking 50 goals or more) and the team's general high scoring throughout the year.

Among the spectators at the eventful premiership win were Henry Harrison - one of the game's co-founders and Dick Wardill, captain of the 1900 side. The old club song "It's a grand old flag" was revived for this historic occasion. After the grand final, W.C. McClelland stepped down as chairman capping off a long career with the club.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1926

Melbourne 4.5.29 7.7.49 14.9.93 17.17.119

Collingwood 1.1.7 6.4.40 7.6.48 9.8.62

Goals: Johnson 6 Moyes Wittman 3 Duff 2 Deane Taylor Vine

Best: Johnson Wittman Moyes Streeter Abernethy Warne-Smith

THE TEAM

B: Streeter Coy Abernethy

HB: Timms H. Dunbar Thomas

C: Taylor Warne-Smith Collins

HF: Wittman Johnson Davidson

F: Vine Duff Moyes

R: Chadwick C. Deane White

In 1927 Melbourne had a disappointing season due to illness and injuries to key players but came back to finish third in 1928 when Ivor Warne-Smith replaced Chadwick as captain and won his second Brownlow Medal. Chadwick remained as vice captain. But the club was to begin a downward spiral and sunk in much the same was as the stock markets and the world economy, which fell into the Great Depression.

The strength of the team dissipated and even Warne-Smith's elevation to coach in 1932 could not save the club from sinking to ninth. During this period one of the few highlights was the goalkicking of diminutive full forward George Margitich but even his fine 73 goal tally in 1930 was far below the amount required to win the VFL goalkicking. It was time for a change...